Apple rolls out CarPlay with Ferrari, Mercedes Benz & others

Technology giant Apple today said it will roll out 'CarPlay', which allows users make calls, use maps and access messages while driving, in partnership with car makers like Ferrari, Mercedes Benz and Jaguar Land Rover.

CarPlay gives iPhone users an incredibly intuitive way to make calls, use maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch, Apple said in a statement.

Users can control CarPlay from the car's native interface or just push-and-hold the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri without distractio, it added.

"Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will premiere CarPlay to their drivers this week," it said.

"CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car," Apple Vice President iPhone and iOS (Product Marketing) Greg Joswiak said.

Once iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay, Siri (iPhone's intelligent personal assistant) helps access contacts, make calls or listen to voicemails.

When the user has an incoming message or notification, Siri responds to requests through voice commands, by reading drivers' messages, let them dictate responses or make calls.

Apple CarPlay is available as an update to iOS 7 and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. CarPlay will be available in select cars shipping in 2014.